Operating mechanism for multiple sash windows



May 26, 1953 E. F. WILEY OPERATING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE SASH wmnows Filed Aug. '7, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. F WLEY ESMO W) BY .&

May 26, 1953 E. F. WILEY OPERATING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE SASH WINDOWS v 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Aug. 7, 1951 lw .l l Q5 3 r V W 2 2 8 4 9 8 6 Z 3 2 Z r 0 Fl... m a 3 a Z f Patented May 26, 1953 OPERATING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE SASH WINDOWS Esmond F. Wiley, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Universal Window 00., Berkeley, Calif., a corporation of California Application August 7, 1951, Serial No. 240,618

3 Claims. (Cl. -42) This invention relates to improvements in operating mechanism for multiple sash windows. By multiple sash windows I refer to the outwardly swinging awning type sash of the kind disclosed in my prior Patents 1,934,290 for Awning Type Window, issued November 7, 1933, later reissued as No. Re. 20,878; No. 2,158,714 entitled fMult-iple Sash Window Hardware, issued May 16,1939; and No. 2,232,297 entitled Operating Mechanism for Multiple Sash Windows, issued February 18, 1941. All of-the aforementioned patents disclose a window which comprises a plurality of sashes mounted for swinging movement in a single frame and embodying operating mechanism whereby all of the several sashes in any one frame may be opened and closed by manipulation of one sash which is usually the lowermost of the group. The patents also disclose means for rendering the connection between sashes ineffective whereby the single or control sash may be opened and 'closed independently of the others. In these prior patents, the several sashes are described as being connected together by means of travel bars. However, the lower or control sash has a releasable connection with the travel bar generally referred to as a shoe or clutch. The construction of the shoe orclutch mechanism is such that upon manipulation of the control sash from a closed to an open position all of the connected sashes will be opened. Upon subsequent closing movement, however, of the control sash the clutch has assumed a released position and the control sash or lower sash may be closed while the other sashes remain open. The construction of the clutch is such that upon the next opening movement of the control sash, reengagement is effected and when the control sashes again close the. other sashes will be closed with it.

In my prior patents hereinabove mentioned, the travel bar member which connects the sashes for simultaneous operation was shown as a flat or strap-shaped member with considerable flexibility and resiliency which could be relied upon as an energizing force to effect the necessary enlacks the flexibility and resiliency of the travel bars shown in the three patents referred to above and I have, therefore, devised new and improved clutch mechanisms for use with a channel-shaped or other relatively rigid connecting member. One such mechanism is disclosed in my application Serial No. 179,267 referred to and the present application relates to certain improvements therein and embodies certain of the features disclosed in my three earlier patents herein mentioned.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved operating mechanism for multiple sash windows including a clutch of simple and durable design capable of positive automatic operation initiated by resilient means carried entirely by the clutch itself so that resiliency of the travel bar which connects the several sashes in a window is not relied upon. Further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention are made apparent in the following specification wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings for a detailed disclosure of my invention in one of its preferred forms.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of two multi-sash windows shown in difierent operative positions,

' Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view through a similar window indicating the manner in which three sashes are connected for operation controlled by the manipulation of the lower sash,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating a detail of the structure shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in elevation showing details of the clutch mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2, and

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged sectional views taken centrally of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4 to illustrate different positions occupied by the several parts of the clutch mechanism during operation of the window through a complete cycle.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows two three-sash awning type windows illustrating two positions which the sashes may assume; one being with all sashes closed and the other being with the two upper sashes open but the lower or control sash closed.

Fig. 2 illustrates generally the mechanism employed for controlling all of the sashes through manipulation of the single sash and in this figure, the three sashes are illustrated at It. Each ofthe three sashes is connected with the operat- -ing mechanism and. frame of the window by means of a hinge arm I! and a connecting link I3. The connecting links [3 are pivoted at their upper ends to the sides of the sash by means of pins not shown and are pivoted at their lower ends to plates [4 secured as by screws or the like to a vertical part of the window frame I5. Thus if any one sash is swung to theopen position shown in Fig. 2, the hinge arm I2 moves downwardly with respect to the frame member l5 and if all of these hinge arms are connected.

together, opening of any one sash will be accompanied by opening of the others. In order'to connect the hinge arms together for simultaneous movement of the sashes, :achannel-shaped travel bar It is arranged for-slidin-gmovementi with relation to the frame member l5 and is preferably disposed in a suitable groove which underlies the plates l4. sashes ID are relatively permanently connected with the travel bar It and the lowermost sash isdetachably connected .to the travel bar 'by means of the clutch mechanism to which the present invention is particularly directed. The connection between the hinge arm l2 of the two uppermost sashes and the travel bar 16 is illustrated inFig. 3 of the drawings as an adjustable connection which enables the sashes to be accurately fitted for simultaneous closing movement.

In Fig. 3 the hinge arm I2 is shown as connected by a pivot pin 1! with a shoe or block l8 connected with the channel-shaped travel bar Why a clutch mechanism illustrated in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, and shown generally at 22 inFig. 2.

.In Figs. 4 and 5, the hinge arm 12 is shown as connected by a pivot pin 23 with a block 24 slidably disposed in the channel 16. The block 24 carries a downwardly depending plate 25 by meansof a pivotal connection 25 and the plate 25'hasan elongated perforation 2'! therein. Disposed adjacent the lowermost end of the channel 46, and secured thereto as by rivets 28 is a latch housing 29 containing a latch member 3i]. The

latch member 3i is. adapted to be received within the elongated opening 2'! in the plate 25 and from the description thus far it may be seen that engagement between the latch mechanism and theplate 25 while the lowermost sash is being opened or closed will compel vertical movement of the travel bar [6 and consequent similaropening and-closing movement of the other sashes. The manner in which this engagement is controlled during a full cycle of operation of the sashes is best understood by reference to Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, of the drawings wherein the latch member. 30 is illustrated as carried in the housing' 29 for rocking and sliding movement.

.A pivot :pin 32 extends through the latch memher and has ends projecting into elongated openings 33 in the sides of the latch housing. A spring 34 is received in a socket provided in the back of the latch 30 and bears against the web of the channel it to bias the latch in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. .5 to 8-. Adjacent its lower end, the latchhousing Mhas a cam surface 35 engageable by the latch to swing it in a clockwise direction in opposition to the spring 34 when the latch slides downwardly in the housing. The plate 25 is also biased in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring 36 interposed between the upper end of the plate and the block 24 to which the plate is pivoted.

When all of the sashes are closed, the parts of the clutch assume the positions illustrated in Fig. 5 because the hinge arms 12 have drawn the channel IE to its uppermost position and the latch 30 is received in the opening 21 of the plate 25 in the position illustrated. When the lowermost sash is swung to its open position, its hinge arm [2 moves downwardly carrying the plate 25 a short distance until its bifurcated The two uppermost .portion'fil through which the pin 26 extends engages the top of the latch housing 29 as shown in Fig. 6 compelling downward movement of the travel bar 16 and thus opening movement of the upper sashes. This initial downward movement of the plate 25 released the latch 30 so that its spring 34 biased it in a counter-clockwise direction in which it presents a sloping ramp rather than an obstruction to the latch plate .21.. The next step of the cycle of .operation is to close the bottom sash with the upper sashes remaining in an open position. This closing movement of the .-,bottom sash draws the plate ,25 upwardly over the sloping ramp provided by the latch I0 and to a. position such as indicated in Fig. 7 without eifecting movement; of the travel Thelowermost end ofthe plate 25 is supported by the edges of the travel bar It in this position because the plate is slightly wider than the channel in the travel bar. Now with the partsin the position illustrated in Fig. 7,-thenext opening movement of the lower sash will reestablish connection with-the travel bar or reengage the clutch so to speak for simultaneous closingmovement or all the sashes. ,When the lower sash-is swung to its open position, its hinge arm l2 and consequently the plate-ZS-slides downwardlypntll the-lower edge; of the plate 25 engages the upper endof the latch 39. This slides the latch .30 in a downward direction to the limit permitted by its pin 32 in the slot- 38 and causes its lower end to ride upwardly on the ramp 3 5 swinging the latchin a clockwise direction to the position 11 lustrated in Fig. 8. In this positionflthe latch has provided an oppositely slopingra-mp ,over which-theplate 25 rode until the latch was'again received in the. opening ,2! of the plate .25, as shown inFig. 8. The lower sash may now .be swung to itsclosed position which draws. the plate 25 upwardly and through the resulting connection shownin Fig. 5 moves the travel bar upwardly and closes all of the sashes.

. In the foregoing description the operating mechanism for a threc-sash window is illustrated as applied tov one side of the sashes. It isitobe understood, however, that similar mechanism is usually employed. on the opposite side end-that the mechanism disclosed is adaptableto windows with-any number of sashes.

The present invention provides simple and positive automaticoperation through astructure that is inexpensive to manufacture and exceedingly durable.

I claim:

1. In a multiple sash window including a travel bar for connecting the operating mechanism or adjacent sashes, a releasable clutch mechanism between one. sash and the travel bar compris ing, a latch member carried by the travel bar, a perforate latch plate slidable past-the latch membe: upon, manipulation of said one sash, said latch member being supported for limited sliding and rocking movement and having spring means adjacent one end and cam means adjacent its other end to compel it to rock upon sliding movement to present surfaces for engagement and disengagement of the latch plate upon alternate opening and closing cycles of said one sash.

2. In a multiple sash window including a travel bar for connecting the operating mechanism of adjacent sashes, a releasable clutch mechanism between one sash and the travel bar comprising, a latch member carried by the travel bar, a perforate latch plate slidable past the latch member upon manipulation Of said one sash, said latch member being supported for limited slid ing and rocking movement and having spring means adjacent one end and cam means adjacent its other end to compel it to rock upon sliding movement to present surfaces for engagement and disengagement of the latch plate upon alternate opening and closing cycles of said one sash and said latch plate being pivoted and resiliently biased toward the latch member.

3. In a multiple sash window including a, travel bar for connecting the operating mechanism of adjacent sashes, a releasable clutch mechanism between one sash and the travel bar comprising, a latch member carried by the travel bar, a perforate latch plate slidable past the latch member upon manipulation of said one sash, said latch member presenting an elongated surface for reception within the perforation of the latch bar, and means sup-porting said latch member for sliding and rocking movement whereby it may present alternately an abutment for the latch plate and a sloping ramp over which the plate may pass.

ESMOND F. WILEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,878 Wiley Oct. 4, 1933 2,158,714 Wiley May 16, 1939 2,232,297 Wiley Feb. 18, 1941 2,293,944 Moseley Aug. 25, 1942 

